INSURER defections and double-digit premium increases may be making consumers wary of seeking health insurance through Affordable Care Act marketplaces. But despite the turmoil, health care advocates are still urging people to shop for 2017 coverage when the annual open enrollment period begins on Tuesday.
“Go shopping,” said Elisabeth Benjamin, vice president for health initiatives with the Community Service Society in New York. “You may be eligible for more financial help than you think.”
Premiums for benchmark plans on HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace, are increasing by an average of 25 percent, the government said. But 85 percent of those insured through the marketplace are eligible for tax credits that can significantly lower those premiums.
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